Reader’s Choice ’07

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Brush strokes of genius

Miles away from the gargantuan Philadelphia Museum of Art, tucked within South Philly’s stretch of rowhomes, rests the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St. Its mix of locality and creative expression has placed its gallery in the top spot this year.

The mission of the memorial, whose namesake created the Graphic Sketch Club in 1898 to teach art to lower-class, neighborhood boys, has not changed much over the past century.

The memorial "has been a hub of creativity for both aspiring and established artists of all ages and backgrounds," Executive Director Matthew Braun said via e-mail. "We show an extraordinary range of work in our galleries, from the young students taking art classes for the first time, to emerging contemporary artists."

Fleisher’s recent showcase, the Wind Challenge Exhibitions, which ends March 17, has been named the Delaware Valley’s premier juried exhibition program. Twelve artists, living within 50 miles of the city, were selected from a pool of 300 applicants to display their work.

"What I love about Fleisher is that we’ve been able to uphold the social-action vision of our founder while providing the highest level of art instruction and support for local working artists possible," Braun said.

Mew Gallery snagged second place and Chapter House received third.

Art in store

ShopRite, 29 Snyder Ave., is known for its food selection — and this year’s most unlikely place to find art due to its colorful mural accentuating its outside wall.

"It was just a passion of mine to put a mural on the building because I’m so enthralled with the murals throughout the city," said Jim Colligas, who, along with his wife, became the supermarket’s owner in 2005.

Designed by James Burns and implemented by the city’s Mural Arts Program, the work includes fruits in vibrant colors plus an array of local flavor: a Mummer, Front-and-Carpenter’s Shot Tower and representations of past and present residents.

"What I really wanted … was to depict the way South Philly was and what it is today and blend the two together," Colligas said, "and at the same time have some organic material in there."

Upwards of six people worked on the mural, whose design was voted on by ShopRite customers with the final piece completed in December. Since then, Colligas has heard nothing but praise from his peers and community members, who tell him the work has "helped beautify the neighborhood."

The mural "doesn’t depict any one point in time, but depicts a transition from old to new and how South Philly has gone through gentrification," he said.

Benna’s Caf� took an eye-catching second place and South Street placed third.

Picture this

Weddings take months — and exorbitant amounts of money — to plan. So what good is such an occasion if it can’t be savored time and again?

That’s why for 25 years, Mark Louis has encapsulated these special days using his camera, video recorder and eye for detail. The local photographer, named best by our readers, also has been behind the lens for babies’ births and sporting events, but wedding ceremonies and receptions are his favorites.

"Every bride, every affair is different," Louis, whose studio is at 17th and Shunk streets, said. "If you do it the way we do it, it’s an adventure with every job."

Since in high demand (it’s not unusual for Louis to photograph and film 60 weddings a year), the photographer advises new clients to book him two years in advance. Couples have even changed their wedding dates in order to have Louis present during their union.

Some of his shots are posed, but Louis also has a knack for "capturing the moment."

Regarding his local win, Louis was elated. "South Philly people are smart, they know what they want, they know what they like," he said. "So for them to pick you, that’s pretty good."

Former Review staff photographers Jules Vuotto and Meredith Edlow received second and third place, respectively.

Mixing Business with pleasure

Combine the sounds of a bass, guitar, drums, keyboard, saxophone, trumpet and trombone with stellar vocals, and you have South Philly’s hottest musical powerhouse.

The Business, dubbed the area’s best band, is a nine-member symphony for the ears. Jamming since 1987, the group, which includes five original members and newcomer Veronica Valentino on vocals, gets crowds excited during events ranging from the private (such as weddings) to the public (Penn’s Landing).

"The guys in the band are good guys," Danny Vanore, The Business founder, said. "Many of them could have left for other bands when times have gotten slow, but they’ve stayed around. That shows what kind of character they have."

These days, business couldn’t be better. This hot commodity — last year’s winner in the same category — can flex its musical muscle at any gig, covering everything from opera to rap. Don’t be surprised to hear ’80s classics like Young MC’s "Bust a Move" or Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock’s "It Takes Two" — both crowd-pleasers and band favorites.

The group has a saying it lives by: "In the South Philly tradition."

"I’m proud of being from South Philly," Vanore, of Fifth and Queen streets, said. "A lot of great entertainers came out of this town, and we’ll continue it."

Adonis scored second place and the South Philly String Band placed third.

Dance craze

DanceAdelphia owner Jason Douglas considers it bad luck to count the number of students enrolled at his studio. But, according to Douglas, you can bet "Philly’s longest running dance studio" at 11th Street and Snyder Avenue has seen its share of movers and shakers since opening in 1956.

Douglas took the reins in ’85 from his grandmother Mary and mom Anna Marie, who is still an instructor there.

"What’s nice is that people take an hour ride from Bucks County and Jersey just to have my mother teach their kids," Douglas said. "Over 100 people come back to South Philly every week."

Classes in jazz, Broadway, ballet, tap, acrobatics, male break dancing and hip-hop (the most popular) are taught using a simple technique.

"We always make sure [the students] love it, make them enjoy it more than anything," Douglas said. "It’s not a boot camp."

As the area boils like a melting pot brimming with diversity, the owner embraces the eclectic blend of residents that enter his doors by inviting them to bring their own cultural styles to the dance floor.

"You have all these different cultures and we give them the freedom to express themselves, and they all bring their own cultural traditions together," he said.

Joanna’s Studio of Dance received second place and All That Jazz took third.

Alt-rock

So maybe your favorite band can’t pack ’em in like U2, but that doesn’t mean they’re not as good. Or maybe you just aren’t into arena rock, preferring a more personal connection with your favorite tunesmiths.

Accommodating more than 1,000 music lovers, the Theatre of the Living Arts, 334 South St., is the area’s most popular alternative performance venue, whose appeal rests in its intimacy.

The TLA gives rockers and fans the ability to get up close and personal with under-the-radar or emerging acts — without having to break the bank. Classics even grace the stage, such as Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham, who is set to appear this month.

Marconi Plaza rocked its way to second, with the Sports Complex taking third place.

Preserving the past

In and around Two Street resides more than 23 Mummers Clubs — all of which pay homage to their predecessors. The epicenter of this Philly tradition is none other than the Mummers Museum, Second Street and Washington Avenue.

Showcasing memorabilia and artifacts, some more than a century old, (there’s even a dated cape once worn by a page), the favored museum is enough to spark "wows" from its more than 10,000 visitors each year.

"And I never get enough of the ‘wow,’" Palma Lucas, the museum’s executive director, said.

But the ooh’s and ahh’s don’t stop with the colorful costumes. The kiddies can take part in the museum’s numerous programs, including "Making Mummers Magic" where they get a guided tour of the museum and create their own masks.

Popular with seniors are Thursday concert luncheons that include a walk-through, buffet and performance by the Hardly Able’s, retirees who still take part in Mummer revelry.

And what would spring and summer be without the nighttime string-band sounds that drown out the Washington Avenue traffic? Breaking from the traditional Tuesdays, this year they will take place Thursdays.

It’s no surprise many former Philadelphians make a stop at the museum when in town to get their "Mummers fix," Lucas said.

The American Swedish Historical Museum and the Academy of Natural Sciences garnered second and third, respectively.